Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-04
AEIEumg OF oPsUm.
A Nest Ingenious ContrtyaAee for
smuEgIIng Lace and opium

A Nest Ingenious Contrtganee for
Smuggling Lace and opium
Oar Customs officers in this distric,
are viailaut. An occurrence Of yesterday
brought this fact prominently before
the people Of this community. Chief
Inspector f. A. Gardner has been in
atrumental in tracing up numerous
schemes Of Smuggling and ia doing 50
has employed his t:me and energies
almost night aud daT. He has friends
in Victoria, b. O., who keep him posted
a. 20 the movements Of certain people
supposed TO be in the unlawful business
Of smuggling. These friends of the
Caief IaspeutoF have been literally re-
warded by him for thsiF aid and their
vieilan has corrsspondingly increased
Upon Mr.. GARDENERS return from his
receut trip 10 the f st be vas informed
by these friends 10 Victoria that new
scheme OF systematic smuggling had
been discovered. He immediately de-
tailed Inspectors wiutFode and Terry
90 help catch the offenders. On Wednes
day the three officers proceeded to Vic-
toFia on the steamer North Pacific
While there they noticed lonely look
ing chest that had been recently paint
cd. Il was landed at the dock aud
finally u was plaeed on the steamer and
checked to Tacoma. The sfiioers cen
oluded 10 watch the chest and try TO see
the owner. Tbs latter did rot appear,
however. and vhen the steamer toachsd
at the Seattle wharf. Chief Gardner
gave orders to have the chest removed
TO the ofioe 81 Depuiy Collector Wins.
lov.
On examining the chest il was found
TO contain a oomplete hit Of well worn
carpenters tools. tsGst Of them careful
" wrapped as thoaRh toe owner had
been an economical and hard soFkinR
mechanic. The hrst thiE9 looked for
on opsniRg the chest WAS false bot
tom. tat this old scheme vas carefully
avoided b. the smugRlefs; the bottom
cas- net fslse. Around the edge Of ths
top and bottom Of the chest sers heSvs
wooden strips that seemed 10 lend Il an
additional appsatsnce OF s0lidity and
nothing more. In probing arsand near
the top = hole, recently filled With put
", IVES fougd. and further search dis
clos a screw. ContiuninR the inves
tiRation alouR At liae. the Inspectors
found many scFrws which held firmly
hUtAC MA1H NAh0N " AhAN NCfC aAA~
posed 10 be li3 wood. Eat what IN re
Atty proved to Do Followed boxes allied
With tightly wedRed cans OF opiam.
The ingenious boxing aFo1rd the bat
tom Of the chest contained % rounds
aRd tat around the toy IL pounds Of
opium. uhirh had cost to Victoria
something ov,r so per ponnd.
Besides these spaces for ooneeslinG
op utn, there VAS found IN the top bostd
small pAFtitioEed spaces suitable for
eanoesiBG absut $500 vogth OF lace.
There VAS no evidences Of resent use II
the ehrsi for lace Smuggling, hat this
new scheme has bern discovered hv the
e1stome officers, aad ;he smnggieFs Sili
b. complied 10 desist fres their usfa-
rtgus rsfie or iuveEt seine rev dsln-
sion. Not scrap Of Vriting Gas 70 be
foand 10 the ches'. though there Vas =
small writipe parlfoiis. there vAs also
found AmobR the hammers. ehtsels,
saws and planes nicely boand volame
on the culture - cranheEries. The
opiurn. together with ths chest and all
lTs contests. will Be- tsksn 20 Port
IoSnssud, aud theFe disposed Of 81
Pablic asction.